{"id":47898,"date":"2019-05-14T13:50:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T20:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=47898"},"modified":"2019-05-14T13:50:15","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T20:50:15","slug":"in-praise-of-professional-naggers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/in-praise-of-professional-naggers\/","title":{"rendered":"In praise of professional naggers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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At the beginning of 2015, I flew to Dayton, Ohio for a two-week research trip at the International Marian Research Institution at the University of Dayton. This research center housed some sixteenth-century prayers guides I hoped would factor into my dissertation. I excitedly viewed the research stint as an opportunity to jumpstart my writing.<\/p>\n

While I waited for my flight home, I emailed my mom and aunts. I wanted to ride the momentum I had created during the trip into a productive semester. I hoped they, some of the most positive role models in my life, would play a part in this,<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always tried to hold myself accountable and\u00a0to uphold certain standards. However, I\u2019ve come to realize I need a little more help to make sure I do this consistently. It\u2019s easy for me to say, \u201cI am going to work on my dissertation today\u201d \u2013 a fairly vague statement. While I accomplish things each day, I need more of a strategic approach to getting this thing done. It is a new, so why not use this time to really resolve to change my habits so I can finally finish? You all such go-getters \u2013 some regular accountability will do me some good!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It was time to bring in the big guns: my mom and aunts, all of whom are go-getters and have played such an influential role in my life. I asked them to be my \u201cprofessional naggers.\u201d Apparently, you can\u00a0pay\u00a0someone<\/a>\u00a0to call you to make sure you\u2019re staying on track. But in all seriousness, I asked these three women if I could keep them informed about my writing goals, as well the regular obstacles I faced. I even created my own writing contract:<\/p>\n